Phthalates are used as fixing agents in scented products like deodorants and perfumes, and to prevent cracking in nail polish. They are also common in plastic packaging. Parabens are a family of compounds that are widely used as preservatives. Meanwhile, phenols, notably triclosan and benzophenone, are used to enhance the durability of some products and as antimicrobial agents.

This latest research shows that girls prenatally exposed to these compounds are more likely to experience earlier puberty, and this risk is particularly high for the daughters of mothers exposed to diethyl phthalate and parabens.

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Chemicals in beauty products are linked to early puberty in this new study.

Starting with the observation that girls are experiencing pubertal onset at progressively younger ages, study leader Professor Harley and her team analyzed data from 338 mothers and their children who were monitored from birth to adolescence. The mothers were first interviewed during pregnancy, which was also when their urine was first tested. This data was then correlated with data on the levels of development of their children between the ages of nine and 13.

The three compounds cited above were present in 90 per cent of samples, with the exception of triclosan (a type of phenol) which was detected in 73 per cent of samples collected from expectant mothers.

The researchers found that higher concentrations of diethyl phthalate and triclosan in prenatal urine was associated with changes in the timing of children's development milestones. In daughters it was associated with early appearance of pubic hair, a month and three weeks earlier than a typical baseline, with every doubling of the concentration. Doubling of the levels of triclosan were associated with menstruation a month earlier than average.

Previous research on rats has shown that phenols, parabens and phthalates are endocrine disruptors that can negatively affect the functioning of hormones in the body. This study further highlights the potential impact that these chemicals can have on the natural development of children.